What's being searched right now

The top places to fall in love with South Korea

Capital of South Korea

1Seoul

1,759 properties in Seoul

Welcome to Seoul

From dawn to dusk and back to dawn again, Seoul’s supply of midnight oil is never-ending. Join the chaos of Namdaemun Market, delve into the past at Bukchon and party till you drop in Itaewon. Finish off that “hotteok” (pancake), fasten your seatbelt and set the turbochargers to max speed.

Best places to see in South Korea

Bukchon Hanok Village

Popular areas

A taste of old Seoul. This quiet hillside village has remained virtually untouched for centuries. Step back in time to when the mighty Joseon Dynasty ruled the Bukchon roost. Ditch the map and wander the narrow alleyways, cutting between grooved roofs. Stop off to ogle old-time artistry at Seongsim Arts and Crafts, where owner Sim Yong-sik is a master craftsman of ornate doors.

To be young is very heaven on happening Hongdae Street. It’s a place for free expression, where Seoul’s twenty-somethings find their voice with funky graffiti or street performances. But Hongdae Street really comes into its own at night, when spicy chicken aromas blend with flashing neon and bar-crawlers’ chatter to create a heady cocktail. “Gun-bae” (cheers)!

N Seoul Tower is a true Korean icon. Standing proud atop Namsan Mountain, it soars above the urban haze. Glide up the cable car and scale the steps – you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views over the vast cityscape. Worked up a climber’s appetite? Tuck into lunch at one of the five restaurants inside. A tip: head up at dusk to see Seoul transform into a sea of twinkling lights.

Itaewon is known as “foreigner central”. Its maze of thronging side streets pack Turkish kebab houses next to Brazlian or Italian eateries. At night, Seoulites and outsiders alike descend on Itaewon to let their hair down in its dizzying array of Irish pubs, microbreweries, cocktail bars and clubs. If you like your nightlife free and fabulous, head to Why Not? or Bar Bliss.

Brush up on your bows and curtseys. This grand 14th-century palace was the Joseon Dynasty’s seat of power for five hundred years, until the assassination of Empress Myeongseong brought it to its knees. Pass through the imposing Gwangwhamun Gate into a complex of open plazas and opulent pavilions, once the haunts of Korea’s imperial bigwigs and emissaries from far-flung lands.

“Stairs? Where we’re going, we don’t need stairs.” Ssamzi-gil Shopping Centre is a helix of gently sloping corridors that spiral up to the leafy roof terrace. Slip through the aroma of “nokcha” tea brewing at the entrance and join the flow of chattering students and casual shoppers. On the way up, you’ll pass shops selling all manner of adorable artwork and cute crafts.